A major railway project being studied in the region could one day allow passengers to travel by train from Lebanon all the way to Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia and Turkey are currently advancing plans for a railway corridor linking Istanbul to Makkah and Medina through Syria and Jordan. Saudi Transport Minister Saleh Al-Jasser recently said that feasibility studies for the project are expected to be completed before the end of the year.
The proposed route is part of a broader effort to reconnect rail networks across the region and revive historic transport links that once connected much of the Middle East. Officials say the project could strengthen trade, tourism, and passenger travel between the countries involved.
Initial maps show a branch of the railway line connecting Beirut to Damascus.
For Lebanon, the development is especially interesting because the country’s rail network was historically connected to Syria. Lebanon was also linked to the famous Hejaz Railway system through branch lines that connected Beirut, Tripoli, Damascus, and beyond.
In recent months, Turkey, Syria, and Jordan have signed agreements aimed at restoring key sections of the historic Hejaz Railway and rebuilding regional rail connectivity. The long-term vision includes creating a continuous rail corridor stretching from Turkey through Syria and Jordan and eventually connecting to Saudi Arabia’s modern railway network.
The idea remains years away from becoming reality, with studies still ongoing and major infrastructure work required across multiple countries. However, the project marks one of the most ambitious efforts in recent years to rebuild regional transportation links and could reshape how people and goods move across the region.
